Before Jiang Ruan could speak, Xuan Pei took the initiative to explain, "Minister Mu insisted on sending Mu Xirou into the palace. I once crossed paths with her and promised her freedom. Since she was destined to enter the palace anyway, I vowed that when the Da Jin Dynasty undergoes a change of reign, that would be the day of her liberation."
"She trusted you so easily?" Jiang Ruan was surprised. Xuan Pei's true capabilities had only begun to reveal themselves in recent years. For a long time, in the eyes of everyone, he was merely an unfavored, useless prince, not even qualified to contend for the throne. How could such a person win Mu Xirou's trust, even to the point of her willingly becoming a pawn?
"Everyone has their weaknesses, and she is no exception," Xuan Pei said vaguely. "Since her fate was sealed to enter the palace, rather than live a life of melancholy within its walls, she chose to stake her life for a future—perhaps one of open freedom." Though Xuan Pei spoke of Mu Xirou, his words resonated with Jiang Ruan as if he were speaking of himself. She looked at the young man before her and sighed inwardly. She had thought she had protected Xuan Pei well, but in truth, long before they reunited, he had been preparing for this day. The hatred and endurance had never left his heart, and she had overlooked it all.
Though she didn’t know how Xuan Pei had convinced Mu Xirou to become a pawn, she imagined he had paid a considerable price. Jiang Ruan didn’t press further. Xuan Pei was no longer the child who needed her to plan everything for him; he was now protecting her in his own way, paving the path for her.
"Alright," Jiang Ruan said. "Now, I need you to give me one of the Imperial Edicts."
Xuan Pei was momentarily taken aback but didn’t refuse. Instead, he instinctively asked, "What does Mother intend to do with the edict?" He didn’t specify which one, but both knew it was the one bearing Xiao Shao’s name. Jiang Ruan had already stated that Xiao Shao wouldn’t contend for the throne, and Xuan Pei believed it. But why would she need that edict now?
"Keeping the edict in the palace isn’t safe," Jiang Ruan shook her head. "Xiao Shao’s identity is a secret. If this were to get out, the entire Da Jin Dynasty could fall into chaos. Even if you had the Emperor’s edict naming you Crown Prince, it might not be enough to command respect—it would only give Xuan Li the opportunity he’s been waiting for. With Eunuch Li’s murder, Xuan Li must have sensed something amiss. His people are everywhere in the palace, and it’s only a matter of time before Mu Xirou is implicated. By then, even you could be at his mercy. This edict is too dangerous to remain here. Let me take it and destroy it.""But..." Xuan Pei felt something was off, yet couldn't pinpoint exactly what. Just as he hesitated, Jiang Ruan continued, "The Brocade Hero King Manor isn't so easily breached. The Brocade-clad Guards are more loyal and formidable than your palace guards. Moreover, if I take the Imperial Edict, you only need to subtly hint at it to Xuan Li—or perhaps you don't even need to—his people will find out regardless. That way, he'll direct all his hostility toward the Brocade Hero King Manor. The edict in the palace will be safer, buying you more time, and Xuan Li won't be watching your every move so closely."
Her reasoning was sound, but Xuan Pei didn't realize Jiang Ruan had cleverly positioned herself within the Brocade Hero King Manor. Indeed, Xuan Li might lack the boldness to act against the manor, and Xuan Pei knew full well the strength of the Brocade-clad Guards—Xuan Li would think twice before making a move. But dealing with Jiang Ruan, especially an unprotected Jiang Ruan, would be far simpler.
Before Xuan Pei could fully grasp the implications, Jiang Ruan pressed on, "Good. Now take me to retrieve that edict."
"Now?" Xuan Pei was surprised by her urgency and said somewhat plaintively, "Won't Mother Consort stay a little longer? Once you take the edict, you'll have to leave the palace."
"There are matters I must attend to today," Jiang Ruan patted his head. "Besides, with two edicts here, it's best to take one back before it gets too late, to avoid unnecessary complications. There have been some changes in the palace, and I need to return to the manor to think things through. As for you, Pei Er, these next few days, no matter what happens, don't act rashly. Just let things unfold naturally. If you need to make any decisions, remember to consult Xiao Shao—don't be reckless."
Xuan Pei pouted, "Why him?" Noticing Jiang Ruan's stern expression, he coughed lightly and added, "Fine, if anything comes up, I'll find a way to discuss it with him."
Jiang Ruan smiled. "Good. Let's go."
Under the watchful eyes of countless in the palace, Xuan Pei had managed to steer the situation without drawing attention. On the surface, Xuan Li seemed to have the upper hand, but in reality, the Emperor's closest confidante was someone Xuan Pei had placed there. By remaining composed and adaptable, Xuan Pei had chosen the safest course. In this game of chess, the one who knew more held the greater advantage—and clearly, Xuan Li knew far too little.
As for where the Emperor had hidden the edict, Mu Xirou knew best. It was bitterly ironic: rulers throughout history had always been paranoid, yet the Emperor found Mu Xirou's cold, indifferent demeanor the most sincere. The older he grew, the more distrustful he became of those around him, fearing honeyed words might conceal hidden daggers. Mu Xirou, standing apart from it all, had instead become his most trusted confidante. And as for the edict—no one would expect such an important document to be entrusted to a woman like Mu Xirou, who had no ties to the harem or the court.In the end, Jiang Ruan managed to obtain the Imperial Edict through Xuan Pei's arrangements. Right in front of Xuan Pei and Mu Xirou, she unhesitatingly unrolled the edict and skimmed through it. Her heart settled slightly—it indeed declared Xiao Shao as the Crown Prince and even explicitly stated his identity as the son of the Hongxi Crown Prince. The edict weighed heavily in her hands like Mount Tai, yet Xuan Pei seemed entirely indifferent. Only after sending Mu Xirou away did he hesitate and ask, "Mother Consort, won’t this bring trouble to the Brocade Hero King Manor?"
He had no desire to concern himself with the fate of the Brocade Hero King Manor, but since Jiang Ruan was now the Princess of Brocade Glory, their fortunes were intertwined. If anything befell the manor, Jiang Ruan would inevitably be implicated. Thus, Xuan Pei had no choice but to reluctantly consider the manor’s welfare.
As he pondered this, Jiang Ruan had already neatly rolled up the edict, placed it in a wooden box alongside some trinkets bestowed by the Empress Dowager, and stood up to leave. Xuan Pei was startled—partly regretful that Jiang Ruan was leaving so soon and partly surprised at how casually she had stored such an important document. Though he trusted Jiang Ruan’s judgment, he couldn’t help but voice his unease: "Mother Consort, perhaps you should keep it somewhere else. Storing it like this seems a bit..."
"Don’t worry. The most dangerous place is the safest," Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "If we go to great lengths to hide it, it would only arouse suspicion. I’ll be fine, so there’s no need to see me off—it might draw unwanted attention. You must be cautious in everything now; no missteps are allowed."
Xuan Pei felt there was something odd about Jiang Ruan today, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. Still, it had been a long time since she had given him such detailed advice, which made him sense that the current situation was even more precarious than he had imagined. He instructed Mingyue to escort Jiang Ruan out of the palace, and Mingyue complied.
However, the palace was full of prying eyes, and the Southern Garden was already under constant surveillance. Jiang Ruan’s visit had stirred suspicion, and the fact that she had spoken with Xuan Pei for so long before leaving—and that Mu Xirou had also been seen visiting the Emperor—left many baffled.
Xuan Li stood in his chamber, listening to his subordinate’s report, his gaze dark and inscrutable. Since the Emperor had fallen ill, he had played the role of a filial son—partly to maintain appearances, but also to facilitate his search for certain items around the Emperor. Thus, he had remained in the palace instead of returning to his own residence, personally boiling water and preparing medicine for the Emperor. To the uninformed, his devotion appeared touching, and court officials occasionally submitted memorials praising his filial piety. Xuan Li had no objection to such accolades and took great care to perform his duties flawlessly while attending to the Emperor. There was no need for him to tamper with the medicine anymore—with even Xia Qing powerless against the illness, his intervention was unnecessary.However, Xuan Li frowned deeply. Initially, he had thought that the most perfect solution would be for the Emperor to continue sleeping until his demise. But now, it seemed the Emperor's sudden illness had come at an inopportune time—simply because he still hadn't found that Imperial Edict. The Emperor had written the edict long ago, and it certainly did not bear his name. This was something Xuan Li had long suspected, and later, Eunuch Li's words had confirmed it. No one knows a son better than his father, but likewise, no one knows a father better than his son. After so many years of being father and son, Xuan Li couldn’t remember when he had stopped seeing the Emperor as a father and instead as an opponent, a stumbling block. Through all these years of covert struggles, he had never gained the upper hand.
He was fully aware of the Emperor’s secret care and protection of the Crown Prince. Precisely because of this, he couldn’t execute his plans as smoothly as he wished. At times, Xuan Li was deeply puzzled—the Emperor clearly despised the Crown Prince, who was both incompetent and lacking in virtue. So why did the Emperor still shield him, refusing to let him relinquish that position? Anyone could see that the Emperor kept the Crown Prince in place only because he didn’t want anyone else to take the throne yet. For whom was he reserving the Crown Prince’s position? Xuan Li had always believed that among the princes of the Da Jin Dynasty, he was the most qualified. Yet he also keenly sensed that while the Emperor appreciated him, praised him, encouraged him, and treated him exceptionally well, he had never once considered placing him on that throne.
Xuan Li couldn’t understand it, and this incomprehension festered into resentment. Under the weight of these emotions, his heart had long since twisted beyond recognition. In the power struggles of the palace, he had eliminated every possible threat, yet in the end, the Emperor still showed no intention of naming him Crown Prince. Finally, he abandoned the last shred of mercy in his heart and poisoned the Emperor’s food.
Since ancient times, regicide and patricide were far from rare in the struggle for succession. Xuan Li was no longer the hesitant man who had agonized over this decision. He now firmly believed that this was right—that this was the best method. In this world, if you wanted something, you had to seize it, fight for it. He had always been the most patient and outstanding hunter, and he would surely have the last laugh.
But then, out of nowhere, Xuan Pei emerged.
From an incompetent, worthless prince to an opponent who could now stand toe-to-toe with him, Xuan Li couldn’t suppress the venomous fury that surged within him whenever he faced Xuan Pei. In the beginning, Xuan Pei hadn’t even been qualified to be his opponent. Yet now, the Emperor actually intended to name him Crown Prince, and Xuan Pei had even gained the support of the Brocade Hero King Manor. How could Xuan Li possibly tolerate this? If he could, he would have already torn Xuan Pei to pieces.
Just moments ago, his subordinates had reported that Jiang Ruan had spent a long time with Xuan Pei. Suspicion gnawed at him. He had also heard that they had gone together to see the Emperor, with Mu Xirou present as well. A conjecture began to form in Xuan Li’s mind.If there was one place in this world where an Imperial Edict could be kept most securely, it was undoubtedly the Brocade Hero King Manor. Perhaps the civil and military officials would argue that any edict retrieved from the Brocade Hero King Manor held no credibility, as it was the residence of a traitorous subject. But only Xuan Li knew the truth—the Emperor had always placed absolute trust in Xiao Shao, a trust so profound it sometimes stirred envy within him. At one point, Xuan Li had even suspected that the Emperor and Xiao Shao shared some blood relation, but the spies he dispatched later found no evidence of it. Xuan Li was acutely aware that the Emperor had never once doubted the Brocade Hero King Manor.
Thus, it was highly possible that the Imperial Edict was indeed hidden there.
The mere thought of this made Xuan Li restless. Knowing the edict’s location would naturally lead to the next step—seizing it. But the Brocade Hero King Manor was no ordinary place; gaining access was far from easy.
The spy added, "When the Princess of Brocade Glory entered the Southern Garden earlier, she also brought along the Empress Dowager’s rewards."
Xuan Li’s spies were meticulous by nature, never missing even the smallest detail. Bringing the Empress Dowager’s rewards to the Southern Garden was not unusual—perhaps Jiang Ruan intended to select some gifts for Xuan Pei. Yet, mentioning it now struck a chord in Xuan Li’s mind. Could this be… a diversion?
He quickly dismissed the thought. No, if someone were truly sent to retrieve the edict, it wouldn’t be Jiang Ruan alone—Xiao Shao would be the more likely candidate. Such a reckless, blatant approach was unthinkable.
But what if this was precisely her ploy?
Xiao Shao and Xuan Pei had little interaction to begin with. If Xiao Shao were to appear, it might confirm the edict’s presence in the manor. To conceal its whereabouts, Jiang Ruan might be taking a dangerous gamble—hiding it in the most obvious place, believing it to be the safest.
Xuan Li’s gaze darkened as he sank deeper into his thoughts. Unbeknownst to him, Jiang Ruan had already led him step by step into her trap. She knew his paranoid nature and had tailored this scheme to exploit his weaknesses. Letting Jiang Ruan go would leave him uneasy, but capturing her might prove futile, only exposing himself in the process. After much deliberation, Xuan Li finally clenched his fist in resolve. "Go," he ordered. "Send word to Dan Zhen. There’s an opportunity before her now—seize Jiang Ruan, but do not reveal yourself."
The subordinate bowed and departed. Only then did Xuan Li relax his grip, clasping his hands behind his back as he gazed at the clouds beyond the palace walls, a cold smirk slowly forming. So what if he couldn’t act directly? He still had a sharp blade at his disposal. Dan Zhen’s hatred for Jiang Ruan ran bone-deep, and Qi Man, having lurked in the capital for years, was a master of concealment. Using these two as his instruments was perfect—they would surely succeed.
Never underestimate the jealousy of a woman.
…….In the carriage on the way back to the mansion, Lianqiao and Luzhu sat to Jiang Ruan's right, while Tianzhu (Nandina) sat to her left. Perhaps sensing the unusual atmosphere today, even though Jiang Ruan hadn't said anything, having followed her for so long, Lianqiao and Luzhu could still discern something amiss from her expression. Even Tianzhu now showed signs of tension, and though Luzhu and Lianqiao didn't know what was happening, they too grew nervous.
Fortunately, nothing occurred along the way. The carriage moved slowly, and just as Luzhu and Lianqiao began to relax, chatting and laughing inside, they suddenly heard a commotion outside. The noise grew louder, startling Lianqiao. The coachman, newly hired by the prince's residence, was usually composed, but his voice now carried a hint of panic: "Young Madam, there's a dead body ahead!"
The carriage jolted violently, and Luzhu screamed, pulling open the curtain to look outside. She saw the crowd scattering in all directions as if fleeing from something terrifying, leaving chaos in their wake. Upon closer inspection, among the ordinary people were some unusual figures. These individuals dressed like commoners but wielded long blades, slashing indiscriminately at anyone they caught. The scene outside was horrifying—wails of agony filled the air, and the ground was already littered with fallen civilians, their blood pooling in a ghastly sight.
"Young Madam, it's terrible!" Luzhu cried in alarm. "There are assassins outside, wildly swinging their blades at people."
As the crowd fled in panic, the sounds of blades slicing flesh and agonized screams were all too clear, sending chills down their spines. Jiang Ruan frowned, while Tianzhu swiftly drew her sword, positioning herself protectively in front of Jiang Ruan. At this moment, she couldn't afford to leave Jiang Ruan's side for even a second. Lianqiao shouted to the coachman, "Turn aside! Don't go that way!"
Getting off the carriage now would be unwise—there was no telling how many assassins were hidden among the crowd, striking down unsuspecting victims with a single slash. Staying inside the carriage was safer as long as they stayed away from the chaos. Lianqiao regretted not advising Jiang Ruan to bring more guards when they left the mansion earlier. With only Tianzhu to protect them, even her formidable martial skills might not be enough to handle the situation.
Just as these thoughts crossed her mind, the carriage shuddered violently. A splash of blood splattered onto the front curtain, and the carriage lurched forward as if struck by a tremendous force, the horses bolting uncontrollably.
"Coachman! Coachman!" Lianqiao braced Jiang Ruan to prevent her from hitting the carriage frame while shouting desperately. But there was no response. She yanked open the curtain, and her heart sank—the coachman had a curved blade embedded in his chest, his upper body slumped over the horse, clearly lifeless. A small dagger was also lodged in the horse's back, and in its pain, the animal galloped wildly, impossible to stop. The fleeing crowd ahead collided with the carriage repeatedly, causing it to sway dangerously as it careened forward, threatening to topple at any moment and be trampled into ruin by the panicked masses.Tianzhu was shielding Jiang Ruan when the carriage suddenly collided with something hard. The horses let out a long whinny, and the entire carriage lurched violently forward, nearly flipping over.
"Ah—!" Luzhu screamed. She had been sitting closest to the door and was flung straight out of the carriage. Jiang Ruan, along with Tianzhu and Lianqiao, had just been thrown into a daze when they heard Luzhu's cry. They hastily pulled aside the carriage curtain to look outside and saw Luzhu had indeed been thrown into the crowd. The impact had sent her sprawling to the ground. The panicked crowd was screaming and fleeing in chaos, paying no attention to where they stepped—one after another, they trampled over Luzhu. Jiang Ruan's gaze sharpened as she spotted a man in coarse linen clothes stealthily drawing a dagger from his waist and thrusting it toward Luzhu's back—
"Luzhu!" Lianqiao also saw it and cried out in alarm. Luzhu, caught off guard by the stab in her back, was in so much pain she could barely speak. The man raised his dagger for another strike, but Jiang Ruan immediately ordered Tianzhu, "Tianzhu, go! Help Luzhu!"
"Young Madam..." Tianzhu hesitated. She and Luzhu had grown close over their long time together, and she considered Luzhu a friend. But the Brocade-clad Guards' foremost rule was to prioritize protecting their master above all else. If she went to save Luzhu, who would protect Jiang Ruan and Lianqiao, who had no martial skills?
"Go now!" Jiang Ruan's tone hardened as she sensed Tianzhu's hesitation, her command icy. Tianzhu stiffened—a subordinate could not disobey orders—and without further delay, she rushed toward Luzhu. Luzhu, seeing the dagger plunging toward her chest but unable to dodge, was frozen in terror when suddenly, Tianzhu's sword intercepted the strike. With a swift counter, Tianzhu drove her blade into the man's throat, and he collapsed. Luzhu stared at Tianzhu, still shaken, then gritted her teeth through the throbbing pain in her back and gasped, "Go... back to Young Madam..."
Before she could finish speaking, she froze. In front of the already shattered carriage, Lianqiao lay half-collapsed on the ground, a shocking streak of blood staining the scene. It was unclear whose blood it was, but no matter how hard she looked, there was no trace of Jiang Ruan to be seen.
"Damn it!" Tianzhu exclaimed.
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